Method and means for tearing out filters from defective filter cigarettes



Dec. 3 1957 EXNER 2,815,029

METHOD AND MEANS FOR TEARING OUT FILTERS FROM DEFECTIVE FILTERCIGARETTE-S Filed April 6, 1955 INVf/VTOR nited States Patent METHOD ANDMEANS FOR TEARING OUT FILTERS FROM DEFECTIVE FILTER CIG- ARETTES HelmutExner, Baden-Baden, Germany, assignor to Zigarettenfabrik Hans NeuerburgKG, a company of Germany Application April 6, 1955, Serial No. 499,627Claims priority, application Germany April 14, 1954 Claims. (Cl. 131-20)This invention relates to a method and means for tearing out filtersfrom defective filter cigarettes.

Whereas hitherto the filters of filter cigarettes have been torn out byhand in preference to a tearing out eifected mechanically, the presentinvention provides a method and apparatus for mechanically tearing outthe filter. The tearing off of the filter by hand is in any caseattended by waste of tobacco because the covering paper is stucksomewhat over the cigarette strand and therefore this tobaccocontainingpart is also seized during the tearing off. Furthermore tearing off thefilter by hand is attended by high unproductive costs because it islaborious and can only be carried out by a large amount of labour.Cutting off the filter also does not lead to the desired result becausethe knife only cuts at a definite distance from the end of the cigaretteand therefore does not take into account the unavoidable difierences inlength of the individual filters.

According to the present invention the tearing out of the filters fromfilter cigarettes is effected mechanically by positively conveying thecigarettes in side by side relation with their filters directed towardsthe tearing means which strike against the ends of the filters. Thetearing means are preferably constituted by pegs or the like mounted ona roller or drum.

In such an arrangement the filter of each cigarette is grasped by thefirst series of pegs and torn out, any residue remaining being graspedand removed by one or more further rows of pegs arranged behind thefirst row in the direction of movement of the cigarettes. The cigarettesare moved positively on a conveyer which preferably consists of twobands of rubber or the like between which the cigarettes are held. Onthe filter side of the conveyor, a supporting rail is provided which hasa slight inclination towards the direction of impact of the pegs on thefilters. This prevents the filters from being pressed down and knockedback instead of being torn out from the cigarettes. The pegs mounted onthe roller Which preferably rotates at high speed, strike the filtersparallel to the same and tear the filter olf over the edge of thesupporting rail. In so doing helical paper strips forming part of theoriginal filter \cover, are left and it is desirable that such strips beeliminated. In order to strip oif the helical paper strips resultingfrom the tearing out operation, stripping blades are provided behind therows of pegs in the direction of movement of the conveyor.

The invention will now be further described with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of apparatus partly in section accordingto this invention, shown diagrammatically,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1, and

Figures 3 and 4 are views of tearing pegs which may be used.

Referring to the drawings, defective filter cigarettes 1 are laid sideby side on an endless conveyer band 2, the filters 3 of the cigarettes 1being towards one side and in the direction of the tearing roller 4. Thecigarettes are 2,815,029 Patented Dec. 3, 1957 advanced positively, forexample by the use of a conveyer band 5 which presses on them, past thetearing roller 4. The filter ends lie on a supporting rail 6 which has acutaway 7 in the region of the tearing roller 4 for the passage oftearing pegs 8. The cigarette ends sliding over the rail 6 thus projectinto the range of the peg roller 4 beyond the supporting rail 6 and areengaged by the pegs 8 of the first row, the filters 3 of the cigarettesthus being torn out therefrom. Any residue of the filter remaining isgrasped and removed by the pegs 9 of the next succeeding row of pegs.

Three further rows of pegs are shown in the drawing; these serve toensure complete removal of any residue of the filters still remaining.To remove the helical strips of paper resulting from the tearing outoperation, stripping blades 10 are provided at the end of the roller 4.

The pegs 8, 9 and 8' are preferably provided at their lower end with ascrewthread 11 (Figures 3 and 4) so that they may be screwedinterchangeably into the roller 4.

Figures 3 and 4 show two types of tearing pegs for use in the apparatusaccording to this invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for tearing out the filters from defective filtercigarettes comprising a conveyor for receiving a row of filtercigarettes in side-by-side relationship with the filter ends projectingin a common direction, and advancing same in sidewise manner, andtearing means revoluble about an axis parallel to the direction ofadvancing movement of said conveyor and arranged to strike the filterends and positively remove the same from their associated cigarette.

2. Apparatus fortearing out the filters from defective filter cigarettescomprising a conveyor for receiving a row of filter cigarettes inside-by-side relationship with the filter ends projecting in a commondirection, and advancing same in sidewise manner, and a series oflaterally spaced rigid pegs revoluble about an axis parallel to thedirection of advancing movement of said conveyor and arranged to strikeand thereby tear and positively remove the filter ends as the rowadvances.

3. Apparatus for tearing out the filters from defective filtercigarettes comprising a pair of vertically spaced endless conveyor bandsfor receiving therebetween a row of filter cigarettes in side-by siderelationship with the filter ends projecting in a common direction andadvancing same in sidewise manner, a rotating drum having its axisparallel to the direction of advancing movement of said row and rigidpegs on the outside of the drum arranged to strike the filter ends tothereby tear and remove same from their associated cigarette as the rowadvances.

4. Apparatus for tearing out the filters from defective filtercigarettes comprising a pair of vertically spaced endless conveyor bandsfor receiving therebetween a row of filter cigarettes in side-by-siderelationship with the filter ends projecting in a common direction andadvancing same in sidewise manner, a supporting rail along side of saidconveyor bands to support a portion of the filter ends with theremainder thereof extending outwardly therefrom, a rotating drum havingits axis parallel to the direction of advancing movement of said row,and rigid pegs on the outside of the drum to strike the filter ends totear and positively remove same from their associated cigarettes as therow advances.

5. Apparatus for tearing out the filters frorn defective filtercigarettes comprising a pair of vertically spaced endless conveyor bandsfor receiving therebetween a row of filter cigarettes in side-by-siderelationship with the filter ends projecting. in a common direction andadvancing same in sidewise manner, a rotating drum having its ReferencesCited in the file of this patent axis parallel to the direction ofadvancing movementof UNITED STATES PATENTS said row, rigid pegs on theoutside of the drum to strike the filter ends thereby to tear andpositively sever same 174,277 Mont 1876 from their associated cigarettesas the row advances, and 402,081 Hughes 1889 stripping blades on saiddrum to engage the severed end 1,986,781 Maxwell 1935 of the cigaretteafter being struck by said pegs to remove 2159'404 RuPdell May 19392,213,392 Grlffith Sept. 3, 1940 any excess material therefrom.

